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Topic: Swarm traps (Read 3927 times)

Hi all, one of our members said that I should be building swarm traps over the winter for next spring.I'm new to all this so I need some plans or drawings of traps that worked for you. I'm in the construction business so have woodworking tools and plenty of time. Would be interested in buying vs. building some if cheep enough.

Welcome to Beemaster! If you use the search mode and type in "swarm trap" it'll pull up quite a bit of information. With that said, I prefer large traps over small. Larger traps will accomodate larger swarms.

If you have the time and energy to put together some extra deeps with frames with either starter strips or foundation of your liking, you can set these out and not have to worry about transferring them into another set up.

TerryI have a couple of types and both work great. For a couple of seasons I used Robos 12" sona tubes and still do. They are light and made right will hold 3-4 frames. The only problem with them is they get mushy from moisture and most of the time are only good for 1 season. What I started doing this past year was make light weight luan nuc's. They hold five frames are still very light and the last. I used 3/4 X 3/4 pine for the frame rests and to support the edges. The most important thing is the bait. Drawn comb dark if possible and lemongrass oil. The books will tell you to put the 10 - 15 feet in the air but I hate ladders so all of mine are 7" at the highest and they have worked sitting as low as a foot off the ground. Put them in a shady spot at the edge of open areas. Honestly I can hang one in the morning of a nice day and go back in the afternoon and there will be scouts checking them out. Have them out by the middle to late May and leave them until july and you will catch bees

Sorry, I need to look in search before posting questions. I guess most subjects have been talked to death. So much to learn for an old guy like me.Danno, got any pictues of luan lightweight boxes? Do you just make to fit deep frames?What's a guy to do if I don't have any hives to get old dark comb from?

Sorry, I need to look in search before posting questions. I guess most subjects have been talked to death. So much to learn for an old guy like me.Danno, got any pictues of luan lightweight boxes? Do you just make to fit deep frames?What's a guy to do if I don't have any hives to get old dark comb from?

As JP stated get old comb from old beeks. I bought 4 deep boxed with 40 frames for next to nothing. as for pics last spring I posted a bunch of pics on here. The luan boxes are made with 3/4 pine ends 9"s wide and 9 5/8 high with a frame rest cut at the top. I then cut luan for sides tops and bottoms. Small strips of 3/4 beef up the bottom and top edges and provide a place to screw the luan top on.

I've seen lots of pictures, but no one actually has published a design.

i use the wax covered cardboard nuc boxes. they are light weight, the comb fits securely, and they are easy to transfer to yard. i use them for swarm calls also.

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I'm building a couple of Dannos luan framed swarm traps for next spring. Just trying to decide if they should be 3 frame or 5 frame. I have heard that most swarms will not fit in a 3 frame trap. An old beek said that I need as much bee space that a medium super provides. What happens when the swarm is 3 pounds of bees? Will they move on to something larger?

and depending on where you are putting them, there can be a weight issue. that's why i like the cardboard nuc boxes.

Logged

.....The greatest changes occur in their country without their cooperation. They are not even aware of precisely what has taken place. They suspect it; they have heard of the event by chance. More than that, they are unconcerned with the fortunes of their village, the safety of their streets, the fate of their church and its vestry. They think that such things have nothing to do with them, that they belong to a powerful stranger called “the government.” They enjoy these goods as tenants, without a sense of ownership, and never give a thought to how they might be improved.....

Doesn't it make sense to anyone to just build and use nuc boxes for swarm traps? Then you could always use them for other exciting endeavors, like making up nucs!

As Kathy said its the weight issue. I have about 25 nuc's the they will be full of splits when swarm season comes. Also if you dont fill them with frames they will draw comb in the missing slots and this can be a mess when I transfer them. With a easy to build, light weight 3 frame all I have to do is pop the top and slide them into a permanent home. I have had swarms that dont fit but have found that they start drawing comb off the bottom.

I guess weight matters when i'm climbing around off the ground but its more about saving a few bucks. I can make a load of these things for the price of one store bought nuc. I'm liking the dark drab paint scheme too Danno.

I guess weight matters when i'm climbing around off the ground but its more about saving a few bucks. I can make a load of these things for the price of one store bought nuc. I'm liking the dark drab paint scheme too Danno.

One more thing that I do is never take my feet off the ground. I hate ladders so my traps are no higher that I can reach. Most about eye level